Steel and wood furniture frame construction



May 27, 1952 G. L. GERBER ETAL STEEL AND woon FURNITURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION 8 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed Feb. 4. 1950 G. L. GERBER ETAL STEEL AND WOOD FURNITURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION May 27, 1952 8 SheetQs-She'et 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1950 NWN II a l mm Q R 3 a) a V P fldw J. WW ($1 j NNN MN May 27, 1952 G. GERBER E'IAL ,597,860

STEEL AND WOOD FURNITURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1950 a Sheets-Sheet s .52 47 W f-5e 8 9 W 36 59 "53 0 n g 85 P 1 46 W 74 Li ZTZ e W MW y 1952 G. L. GERBER ETAL 2,597,860

STEEL AND WOOD FURNITURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Q p u 62 i II 33 96 21- J 57 61 a T l I IH 99 52 aim/l0) .JweLym/fiah jz m dlfzee y 7, 1952 G. L. GER BER ETAL 2,597,860

STEEL AND woon FuRNITdRE FRAME CONSTRUCTION a Sheets-Sheet 5' Filed Feb. 4, 1950 EAL,

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y 1 G. GERBER ETAL 2,597,860

STEEL AND WOOD FURNITURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Ilill I A a" WW May 27, 1952 G. L. GERBER ETAL 2,597,360

STEEL AND WOOD FURNITURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1950 a Sheets-Sheet v G. L. GERBER ETAL 2,597,860

STEEL AND WOOD FURNITURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION May 27, 1952 Filed Feb. 4, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 pflwearoi ar/ gz em L gay Patented May 27, 1952 STEEL AN D WOOD FURNITURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION George L. Gerber, Naperville, IlL, and Harold. E. Lee, Beverly Hills, Caliifi, assignors to Kroehler. Mfga. 00.,v Naperville, Ill., a corporation of Illi.

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Application February 4, 1950', Serial No. 14 2,3581

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to framework construction for upholstered furniture and.concerns itself" with the incorporation of metal and wood components in a characteristic and unique: manner and; in manufacturing and assembly methods in respect thereto.

Essentially, Wood constitutes a practicalv and important raw material from which are made nearlyall frame and supporting structures of upholstered furniture articles as divans, couches and chairs. Certain classes of wood are chosen for lightness of Weight and others for rigidity, tensile strength or appearance characteristics. Cost and scarcity of wood are influences which are making themselves felt throughout the furniture manufacturing industry to an extent that practical substitutions are desperately sought for; So long as fabric coverings are utilized in styling and adornment of parlor furniture, it will will continue to be essential to provide in furniture framework certain basic wood or fiber composition elements to serve as nailing strips andto form curvatures and profiles in additionto those-portions which require to be exposed.

Accordingly;- in order to combine certain structural parts, which require to be made of wood, with other parts from which there is expected to be contributed strength and rigidity factors, theremust be overcome various problems of coordination for the purpose of achieving efficiency, lightness of weight and simplicity of as sembly. One of the considerations which dominates this development is the efficientcombini'ng of: wood: and steel. It isalsc importantthat the mass. or quantity of these materials be: maintained at' a. minimum whereby to yield adequate constructional advantages without significant accumulations of. weight;

Parlor furnture framework is ordinarily subjected to certain strains or loads in respect to definite directions which. requires. them to be constructed with adequate, strength to enable withstanding such. loads. TheI efficient use. of steel in. framework construction; of this class requires that only so much or the; metal be. used as; is. necessary to achieve the required strength and that it be shaped anddisposed to give maxi.- mum beam dimensions where needed and minimum cross section for. sake of lightness; In addition to these considerations, thereiare various and sundry" materials cost and manufacturing methods factors which reflect the ultimate price at which the furniture products may be marketed:

While. the. basic considerationswhich concern metal and wood: as framing: material in furniture manufacture are principally economic and secondarily aesthetic, there are to berecognized that withal, the measure ofsuccessful product achievement in this field of enterprise is thefulfillment of graceful style characteristics which will possess the necessary eye; appeal, whileper- Knitting generously of variations of shapes and trimming. The cost of incorporating such variations to the metal components is manifestly prohibitive. and; for this reason principally, itis proposed to teach a method of metal framework construction. around which the quality of style characteristics and variations may be superimposed by the overlaying of wood trim andprofile elements which. will furnish the essential foundation skeleton while at the same time con.- tribute rigidity to the tensile strength; in which the metal core-of theframework; abounds.

A principal object of this invention, therefore, v

is one of achieving a metal and. Wood combination structure for furniture framework in which an integrated steel core is made to receive a variable overlay of wood so that a lightweight frame is achieved whose strength and over-all weight is comparable to the heretofore known structures-made entirely of wood;

A further object of the presentinventio-n is to devise; a, system of metal and. wood combination in furniture framework. construction whereby the framework may be. completed in subassembly sections. consisting essentially of side,.baok, and seat cushion. elements. united and separable at their junctions by simple bolt and screw threading, operations. 7

A still further object of the present, invention is to provide an all metal core framework upon which woodenv trimming and nailing supplements may be applied to constitute. each side. or cushion component ofv an article. of parlor furniture and whereby adjustment of the welded steel framework may be accomplished by local metal distortionfor the purpose of'achieving alignment. ther objects of this invention are such as will become evident during the course of the following detailed description and such as will be understood from a reading of the hereunto appended claims when taken in conjunction with the illustrations in'the' accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a parlor sofa representing a conventional pattern covered so as to conceal its posterior structure but: in. the construction of which there: may be employed various principles which constitute the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same article of furniture illustrated in Fig. 1 showing its sectional components and indicating, in accordance with a particular design, a preferred manner of assembly;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a combined metal and wood framework construction which may be employed in a furniture product such as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of a sofa con structed in accordance with the design featured in Figs. 1 and 2 in which certain articles of covering fabric have been removed whereby to expose posterior details;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the furniture framework illustrated in Fig. 5 in which the upholstery springs have been omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view and is taken approximately on line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view and is taken approximately on line 88 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view on somewhat reduced scale showing the side arm components uncovered in order to expose assembly details;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detailed structural view taken approximately on line Iii-iii of Fig. 5 or 8;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view through one of the frontal leg blocks;

Fig. 12 is a View similar to Fig. 11 taken on a displaced section line therefrom indicating an adjustable position which may be achieved in contrast from that illustrated in Fig. 11;

Fig. '13 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken approximately on line l3l3 of Fig. 5

Fig, 14 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view with portions broken away, indicating a manner of securing the ornamental covering fabric and concealment back cloth along the upper back frame elements;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a corner construction adjacent the lower righthand extremity of the back cushion framework;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detailed view of a front center leg block and its mounting bracket;

Figs. 17 and 18 are transverse sectional views on different section lines illustrating a further significance of the center leg block featured in Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken approximately on line 19-19 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view of the back cushion framework construction showing various significant details of securement apparatus whereby the meta1 and wood components are utilized efficiently;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view through an angle metal portion of the base framework showing how the torque tool may be applied thereto to adjust for planar alignment; Fig. 22 is a companion view to Fig. 21 showing in somewhat exaggerated degree the technique of adjusting by means of the wrench or torque tool;

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the base member framework assembly which may be adjusted in accordance with the above practices for the attainment of alignment; and

Fig. 24 is a rear elevational view of a chair article of parlor furniture having embodied therein various features of the present invention.

In order to contemplate the divers differences and variations which are characteristic of various styles of parlor furniture, the present invention will be explained in connection with a parlor divan or davenport, with supplementary explanations in connection with the arm chair featured in Fig. 24.

The reference numeral 3| designates the back cushionv assembly, the references 32 and 33 the side cushions and the reference 34 the base frame. According to a preferred practice with which the features of the present invention are intended to be incorporated, the aforedescribed sectional components 3|, 32, 33 and 34 are fully assembled even to the extent of having permanently implaced thereon the ornamental or covering fabrics at central manufacturing points. These sections may thus be more closely packed in vans, cars or other conveyances and when delivery at remote destination points, these members may be properly associated and secured together by the placement of threaded bolt and nut elements at points provided therefor as will be more explicitly revealed hereinafter, whereupon the finished product is established in the condition illustrated in Fig; 1. The variety'and points of bolt securement of the separate sections are generally indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. In this connection, itis to be noted that the feature of final assembly of the sectional components resolves itself into a minimum task such as can be performed by unskilled labor and such as requires the use of but simple wrenches and a trim cloth tack hammer.

Attention will first be given to the back frame and back cushion features. A pair of steel straps 35 and 36 symmetrical and oppositely shaped after the manner best illustrated in Fig. 20 are spot welded as at 31 and 38 respectively, to the steel bowed framing strip 39 and steel channel member 4|.

The framing strip 39 is advantageously provided with a series of circular openings 42 through which there may be inserted wood screws for entry into the nailing strip 43 or into a carved head board where the design dictates are in this respect difierent from the illustration of the particular design. Where the nailing strip 43 is intended to have longitudinal curvature as after the manner shown in Figs. 5 and 20, its inner surface may be slashed by spaced saw cuts 44 of a depth so as to extend part way through the width of the nailing strip 43. This practice affords adequate resiliency to permit the strip to be formed or curved cold in this manner giving to the final assembly secure rigidity without having to treat the wood fiber specially as by steaming, etc.

In the case of divans or other wide span constructions, there may be provided intermediate the steel assembly core channel ribs 45 and 45 of suitable number and spacing shaped after the manner best illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 8. It will be seen that near their upper ends, channel ribs 45 and 4B are substantially flattened and flared as at 41, thence bent over as at 48 to afford a wide welding area where the bent over portion is presented in surface abutment with the bow strap 39. The lower ends of the ribs 45 and 46 are similarly bent over as at 49 and thereat, spot welded to the channel 4 i. In this way, the steel framework of the back cushion will be observed to constitute a transversely rigid integral assembly,

5, having;amplebeamrigidity"throughoutby/reason of the-center channel formations in; the. ribs 4.? and: W as well; as: the. side strap members 351 and 36. The. bowed member 39. obtains additional: and transverse rte-enforcement. from the adjacent-wood framing as will nowfbe. described.

'Ihe head board and:nailing strip-43:has-a1ready been generally and structurally described and it i'sto be observed from: the illustrations. in Figs; 4 and 20 that this member is of substantial width and that no'twithstanding' the slashings it-which are. made on they under'surface part way through itsnarrowest dimension, astoutiand vigorous nail-- ingf member is thereby afforded, having the overhang portions as.at.5:l and 52. which help to-form the side. wing or ear projections-that:overlie the side frame members bland 33. In the case. of: overhang which is better illustrated in Fig. 2.0, it' willl'be observed that theend of thismember is butted against'the short length of'form' board 53- and thereat secured and made rigid; by appropriate dowling 55 and re-enforced with-corner fills of-"glue blocks 56.

The lower ends of the form boardsv 53 are met by transversespacer. boards 51 apertured asat: 58

wherethrough these boards receive the ends of the final. assembly securing bolts. 59', see particularly Figs. 5,7 and. 24; The spacerboards 51 are made fast to. the form boards 53as' well as to the continuation form boards Eil' by means of gluing and dowling as indicated at 62; Figs. 7' and. 24. From thecontinuation of taper in boards 53 and. GI which is: discernible in Figs. 7:, 8 and 9, there is impartedto the forward face of the back: frame assembly a slope or angularity. consistent with the desired disposition of the cushion curvature as best indicated in Fig; 4'. Since this cushion member is ultimately to be finished with con tainedcushion springs and: upholstery packing'as.

will later be more fully revealed, thereisprovided a forwardlydisposed nailing strip-55? that extends across-the full width of the inside portion: of' the cushion and is anchored to the continuation board filby the dowlpins 66" and nailing blocks In order to give intermediate re-enforcement to the nailing strip 65. each of the channel ribs 45 and E5 is provided with an an'gularly disposed channel strut 68 screw-fastened as at 69 to. the rib- 45 or 46 and as at H: to the nailing strip 65. From the foregoing, it isto. be observed that. the wood framing including the. members 53-; 51' and SI which are disposed on both sides of the steel frame straps 3.5 and 36 give to thexl'atter members an abundancexof transverse rigiditysuchas is comparable to solid wood structure, permitting the members 35 and;v 36 to. be made of narrow strap. material as will be. seen in the drawings and in this way, constituting the steel re-enforcing' portion. of the. frames of" minimum weightcharacteristics, yet obtaining from these members generous. beam. strength such as is; afforded by their considerable. transverse width. in the direction in which they.v are subjected to strains during service offthefurniture article.

Attention is nowagain directed to. certain significances in the other parts of; thesteel. frame-' work, portions of which have. already been described. More particularly, it: will be observed from Fig. that side. strap (and this; is also t'rueof its counterpart side strap 36) is substantially straight" except for a slight offset as at 12, renderingthe lowerextremity lt 't'o be disposed. in close-proximitytothe sidemember 33. as bestseen Fig; 5 The spacing which is thereby afforded.

61 between. the upper portion of member 351 the. remainder of the side member 33.i's; adequate to permit; the several thicknesses; of burlap fabric; and finish cloths which. cover the back. cushion and; side members tobe received thereat: in comhorizontal area. which coincides with the; ad-

jacent channel. surface see particularly Fig. 15;

Whenthe. constituentsv of th framework. of? back: cushion member 3 l. are assembled andmade' fast, to: one another. asexplained; in the. foregoing.

- the structure-is in readiness for applicationthere to of the upholstery springs padding; and. or namentation fabric. In the practice whichhas been illustrated in- Fig. 5, there is contemplated a morecentralized arrangement of large upholstery:

springs contrastingwith those shownin the chair embodiment in Fig. '24. In orderto serve as ananchor for the-converging convolutions of. each. spring; in thevertical alignments, there is placed at the center of its row a flexible: tie member 8| which may be made of flat spring stock as contemplated in Figs. 4 and 5 or of roundwireas: indicated at 82 in Fig. 2.4. The ends: of the tie members are preferably secured. by being: bent over and embedded. as at 83- in the crown strip 43- and as at 84in the lower nailing strip 55.

The'small diameter convolutions of the several upholstery springs; 85 are made fast. to;- the: tie member 81 by stapling as at 86 or in. any other of several well known upholstery shop practicesand' in this manner, the spring units are-located with resilient security;v givingv to the spirally in creasing'outermost convolutions' of each of. them; a floating buoyancy which is restricted in a general sense only by the-perimetric framing wires 81 which encompass tangentially thelargest con-- volutions and maintain them relatively in planar alignment.

The metallic spring system just described is covered by a stout under fabric 88 of burlap, duckv or, similar backing after which a thickness of padding material 89 is distributed so as to. impart roundness and softness to the coveringmaterial whichmayconsist. of one or; more layers; of cover-fabric, outermost of which is an ornamental. cloth 91 frequently velure, frizze, velvet, etc; Both sets of fabrics between which the padding 819 is loctedi are customarily made secure at their edges by tacking as at 92 to the strip 65 and as at 93 to the crown board 43. The sides. or ends of the fabric-1 are similarly treated and tacked to the form' members 53 and 6!. When finally completed, the back member; assembly 3t has the appearance which is indicated for. it in Fig; 2 of the accompanyingdrawings.

side members 32:-and. 33' require to be" able-to sustain primarily vertical thrust forces and for thisreason, it is proposed to construct thesememhere in symmetrically opposite fashion withwood front.- and rear stud strips- 94 and 95 of: which the back ones 95. are angled to correspond. with the inclination of the steel portion of the back cushionmember 3 l while the front studsurfaces' a4. are essentially perpendicular; Aesthetic cur.- vaturev is given to the wooden. underframe' byrounding the top horizontal board; member 96;

as at 91. The adjacent ends of the side memberassemblies are held together by a horizontal wood beam 98 and their outermost ends by the horizontal wood beams 99.

When the side arm components 32 and 33 are thereafter covered, first by a stifi fibrous lining material and thereafter by padding and ornamentation to correspond with the other details of construction of the furniture article, there is given to the side arms a more firm or stable padding condition than is characteristic throughout the various cushion elements such as the back and seat, the latter of which is yet to be described. In practice, the outermost coverings of the side arms 32 and 33 while beingcoextensive with the full outline thereof on the extreme surfaces as can be observed in Fig. 1 are preferably finished on their interior surfaces to the level IIJI which coincides with the re-enforcing beams 98 that may thereby serve as nailing strips after the manner already explained above.

The side arms 32 and 33 are provided with devices for making them secure to the back cushion 3I as well as to the frame or base 34 when the sections are finally assembled. For the former purpose, each of the horizontal boards 96 is drilled to receive a bolt member 59 having a wood screw threaded end at I 92, a fluted central shank I93 and a machine screw threaded upper end for receiving the final 'assembly nut I94, see in particular Fig. 7.

The provision of the aforedescribed type of final assembly coupling affords the advantage of permitting the bolt to be located in the arm board 96 after the upholstery covering has been applied by the application of a torque wrench or pliers to the fluted section I93 after which the placement of the back cushion assembly 3| is aligned so that the hole 58, Fig. 21, of the space board 5'! comes into registration with the bolt 59. In this manner the two members may-be accurately located and thereafter, securely integrated Access to the bolt 59 for permitting the application of a lock washer and nut I94 thereto in performing the just described function of final assembly is afforded through the rear opening of the cushion member 3i before it is covered by the muslin back sheet I05, Fig. 4. In accordance with recognized shop practice, this covering sheet I95 is preferably included in the assembly of fabrics which are tacked as at 93 to the crown board 43 and the final closing of the rear access aperture is accomplished when the lower end of the strip IE5 is'tacked as at I09 to a nailing board IIll nested within the channel member 4|. As with the other coverings, the sides of the fabric I05 are preferably doubled over and tacked at their edges to the sectional end boards 53 and SI The base structure of an article of furniture of this general category is usually comprised of a box-like enclosure which houses a distribution of upholstery springs that afford seating compression and resiliency. As with the case of back cushion member 3|, base 34 has, in accordance with the present invention, been evolved about the novel unitary steel framework principle, Fig. 23, being made of angle metal components. A rear transverse member is designated III and is flanked at the ends by overhang fianges H2 while the foremost angle beam H3 is somewhat shorter and faces beam III. the two being transversely integrated by a pair of spaced connecting beams H4 and H5, also of angle metal.

By welding the cross members H4 and H5 to the transverse beams III and H3 at points H6, Fig. 23, the assembly is integrated into a rigid rectangular unit on which may be supported a conventional assembly of seat springs II'I arranged in coordinate rows. The uppermost convolutions of the, outermost springs in such assembly are perimetrically circumscribed. by

a wire frame H8, Fig. 4; In the lounge or davenport variation of the steel base frame,- Fig. 3, additional transverse re-enforcement comprise part of the principal framework of side members 32 and 33.

The rear channel II I is purposefully longer than front member H3 and at its ends is constructed after the manner indicated in Fig. 19 whereby to include opposed overhanding portions I22 of its horizontal flanges as well as opposed transverse butt plates I23, welded as at I24, to the top and side flanges of angle member III, see also Fig. '7. The butt plates I23 may be open slotted and by passing through these slots and through holes in the horizontal beams 99, the carriage bolts I25 or other suitable securement, the steel frame assembly is rigidly integrated with the side frame members in a manner involving a minimum of locating operations.

The horizontal flanges of members III and H3 are provided with predeterminedly spaced apertures I26 through which protrude the perpendicularly bent extremities I21 of spaced support wires or strips I28, Fig. 4, and on the surface of these strips there rest the converging convolutions of the springs H8 whereat they may be appropriately lashed in any of several well known conventional manners of anchoring.

Thus, there is firmly yet yieldably located the seat spring assembly under the steel framework, Figs, 3 and 23, in a manner which utilizes the transverse strength and rigidity of the angle iron frame components in keeping with the dominant objective of minimum weight characteristics. The seat assembly is covered with a thickness of primary padding material I3l which may be a single web lamination made up of stout penetration resisting fabric or composition, usually burlap. On the surface of this primary overlay there is distributed a substantial thickness of springy cushion padding I32 such as cotton-batt, excelsior or any suitable curly-hair fabric. The overlay is then encased from approximately the point I33 towards and including the rear by a covering fabric I35 which extends, around, thence downwardly as at I36 being drawn taut over the edge of the vertical flange of angle member II I and impaled on a series of prong projections I31 that may be struck from or superimposed upon the inner surface of this flange.

From the point I33 forward there extends the ornamental outer covering fabric I38 rising sharply to form a ridge or knoll referred to in the industry as a seat roll I39. By having disposed in this region an edge padding I4I of significant thickness so as to maintain its promwhich the removab us ns {I43 y S gle or multiple. The lip or seat roll formation .also inhibits forward tumbling and misalignment such as results from incremental advancements that are incident to flexing of the short nap of certain cushion fabrics or such as may be conseguentof repeated seating and rising by occupants- In parlor furniture of this class which is intended to repose ve y @1036 to the floor surface, leg support is usually and preferably achieved by the provision o-f several short stature leg blocks, foremost ones of which I I,see.also Figs. 1,1;and 12, .are substantially vertically sided and provided with friction reducing glide buttons as at I52. In keeping with the constructional practices proposed for the improved steel and v wood furniture framework described in the foregoing, structural adaptations are now to be described for making the application of .leg blocks conveniently adjustable and expediently mountable after the base member has been assembled.

Towards this .end the flange .I I3 is provided at significant locations with apertures for receiving-'theadjustment bolts I53. The bolts I53 which are threaded internally and headed as at I54 at the exposure surfaces, pass through vertical flanges I55 of angle metal brackets in which elongated slots 156 are provided. Before the bolt 'nuts are tightened the bracket flange IE5 is predeterminedly positioned either after the manner indicated in Fig. 11 with its remote end resting beneath the front extremities of the transverse beams gelprrafter the mannerindicated in Fig. .12

in which case a supporting block I51 integrated as at I58 to the beam 99 affords a support for the remote end of said brackets. To assure against drifting or misalignment, slots or apertures may be formed in the horizontal flanges of these leg brackets as at [6| in which case a locating tack may be driven through said slots or openings before the nuts on bolts I53 are drawn tight.

The horizontal flanges I62 are provided with embossed or flange encircled openings at predetermined locations in correspondence with countersunk holes I63 drilled in the leg blocks I5I. Thread cutting wood screws I65 are then passed through the openings I63 and by pressure and rotation, made to secure themselves in the formed openings of the flanges I62. The frame elements are further integrated by providing apertures in the stud strips 94 and in correspondence with such apertures, elongated holes III in the vertical flanges of the foremost angle members II3. Anchor bolts I12 are then passed through these alignments of openings and made fast by bolts and lock washers.

In Figs. 16 through 18 there are shown alternative types of leg block mountings such as are more appropriate and suitable for the rear leg blocks II'5. Form brackets I'IB may be screwed as at I" into the arm beams 99, an operation usually performed after the covering fabric I18 has been secured by tacking as at I19 to the beam 99 functioning as a nailing strip. As with the front leg block, securement is established with the horizontal-flange I 81 by means of .sclfethread- .ing countersunk wood screws [82. 7

While the assembling and final processing operations of furniture articles in accordance with various well known practices which are prevalent under production .methods seekto exercise to the utmost of practical limits high degreesof manufacturing -.acouracies and firm dimensional tolerance-conditions, there .must be recognized that due to various natural factors which produce distortion such as warpage and shrinkage there may develop occasionally serious conditions of misalignment. Sometimes these misalignments are induced .bymetallic strains and are of sumcient degree to prevent the furniture article from resting squarely on its leg block-"supports. The steel-integrated base member framework just .described has roved itself under such conditions to be generously yielding soas to adjust by marginal torsion for (all practical ranges of' misalignment. As a consequencalit has been [established that furniture constructed in accordance with the herein taught methods will adjust itself so as to rest runypnan of its points'of support,

' allowing in instances for corrections which are theresult of misalignment of the ifloor .level .on which they are expected to repose.

When, after a steel frame has been welded together and the wood adjunct elements applied thereto, pronounced degreesof misalignment are observed, specific and local .leyelilng adjustments may .be achievedinthe field by means of a simple torsion tool ZIl-l, Figs. .21 and :22, which OQ SiSts of an alligator jaw portion 262 slotted as atZIlB toreceive the web ofmetal suchas-onenf flanges of the framelan le. members 1113., I I 5,for .I I I. "B-y exerting a torsion force after the manner indh cated in Fig. 2 locally upon one of the aforedescribed frame members, which Operation may be performed more, e.Xpeditious after invertin e a s m led furnitu articl a. correction can be achieved instantly for leveling 'Qfij misaligned floor block conditions.

While the present invention has been explained and described with reference to a particular system of construction, having in mind the specifically disclosed structural embodiments, it will be understood, nevertheless, that numerous modifications and variations may be incorporated without departing from the essential spirit or scope thereof. It is accordingly not intended to be limited, in an understanding of the invention, to the particular language employed in the foregoing specification nor to the illustrations selected for disclosure in the accompanying drawings except as indicated in the hereunto appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. An article of parlor furniture comprising, back, seat, and side components in which said back component is constituted of a steel core comprising an integral rectangular planar assembly of which a lower longitudinal element is of plural sided cross section and of which an upper longitudinal element is a flat strip disposed so that its width dimension is substantially perpendicular to the principal plane of said assembly, end strips transverse to said lower and upper longitudinal elements and also disposed with their width dimensions substantially perpendicular to the principal plane of said assembly, said end strips deformed in symmetrical and opposite manner to each other with marginal offset and extending portions apertured for bolting to cooperating portions on said furniture side components and being welded at their extremities to the extremities of said lower and upper longitudinal elements, corner gussets for re-enforcing and providing triangular bracing welded to said end strips and to at least one or the other of said longitudinal elements, and supplement framework superimposed upon said steel core comprising overlay pieces of wood formed and butt-jointed to each other to provide an ornamental profile to the back component outline of said furniture article, to provide nailing area for upholstery covering and to stifien said upper longitudinal element and end strips in the direction of their respective thickness dimensions.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said steel core includes intermediat brace elements of ribbed cross section welded at their ends to intermediate points along the length of said lower and upper longitudinal elements.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said upper longitudinal element is bowed and in which the wood overlay piece of said supplemental framework which is superimposed upon said upper longitudinal element, is shaped to conform to the bowed condition by being slashed at closely spaced interval part way of the thickness of said piece on the surface which abuts said bowed element.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said lower longitudinal element is of chanin subassembly components consisting of a back,

two sides, and a base in which said base is comprised of a steel core framework made into a rectangular assembly of angle-section metallic elements of which the angle element are welded to each other at junctions of perpendicularity, a

system of seat cushion springs supported on said steel core framework, the rear one of said angle elements of said steel core framework extendin longitudinally and being bolt secured to said component sides, the front one of said angle elements also extending longitudinally and being bolt secured to a frontal wood nailing strip of said base component, and a set of leg blocks comprising short stature solid members carrying angle metal sections in at least some of which are formed elongated holes whereby is afforded lateral adjustment of said blocks for bolt securement to said front angle element longitudinal extensions.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which saidsteel core framework is comprised of angle section metallic elements arranged in rectangulation whereby the horizontalflanges of each element extend inwardly of the rectangulation and in which the vertical flanges thereof are peripheral to the rectangulation.

7. A method of assembling parlor furniture components in which the base component consists of an integrally welded angle-metal rec tangulation, which comprises the steps of securing leg blocks to the corner extremities of the rectangulation, testing the floor resting surfaces of the leg blocks for planar alignment, and correcting for out-of-planar alignment by torque bending the angle-metal rectangulation at any of its corners which are singularly out of planar alignment by imposing a twist force thereto around an axis longitudinal to an angle-metal element of said rectangulation.

GEORGE L. GERBER. HAROLD E. LEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,543,858 Ludwinks June 30, 1925 2,147,611 Reed Feb. 14, 1939 

